Selective hydraulic control structure



Sept. 14, 1948.

E. W. AUSTIN SELECTIVE HYDRAULIC CONTROL STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Shee't 1 Filed Aug. '10, 1945 INVENTOR. ZZZ-52001292 3.076 53%:

Sept. 14, 1948. E. w. AUST IN 2,449,269

I SELECTIVE HYDRAULIC CONTROL STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 10, 1945 5""ShBBtS--ShBGt 2 HINVENTOR.

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E. w. AUSTIN 2,449,269 SELECTIVE HYDRAULIC CONTROL STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet'S Sept. 14, 1948.

Filed Aug. 10. 1945 L1 7 Q 156 L2 INVENTOR. 27/6 021% 357a fizz/z. -10 BY 7/ Patented Sept. it,

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SELECTIVE HYDRAULIC CONTROL STRUCTURE Application August 10, 1945, Serial No. 610,116

11 Claims. (Cl. 60-97) My present invention relates to a selective hydraulic control structure wherein a single set of hose from a source of hydraulic pressure to a hydraulically controlled device is suflicient for operating a plurality of different hydraulic jacks or the like on the hydraulically controlled device.

One object of the invention is to provide a'control Structure of this general character which may operate, for instance, the raising and lowering of a scraper and the dumping operations thereof through a single set of hose from a hydraulic pressure system on, a tractor which pulls the scraper, the control structure including a selector valve on the scraper which can be operated in a certain position of a control valve on the tractor, which control valve is the usual type of hydraulic valve for producing pressure in one hose and relievingpressure from another, or vice versa,

modified to include a means for operating the 20 selector valve.

Another object is to provide a, selector valve which is comparatively simple to manufacture and foolproof in operation, the valve being operable at will by means of introducing pressure in both hose leading from the control valve on the tractor to the selectorvalve.

A further object is to provide a selector valve which has a pair of hydraulically operable acl tuating mechanisms, one connected with one hose and the other with the other hose, the valve itself being operable to control the flow of oil to and from two hose which lead from the tractor to the selector valve so that they may be connected with either one ortwo, or more, hydraulic jacks'on the scraper so that any desired one of the jacks can be operated in either direction, the hydraulic actuating mechanisms of the selector valve being so connected with an indexing 'means for the selector valve that pressure in either one of them will not actuate it, but pressure in both of them will actuate it.

Still a'further object is to provide the control valve on the tractor primarily for introducing pressure into one hose from the tractor to the selector valve and relieving pressure from the other, and, secondarily, operable in a predetermined position to introduce pressure into the hose from which pressure has been relieved. thereby causing a build-up of pressure in both of the hydraulic actuating mechanisms of the selector valve in order to change the position of the valve.

Other objects are to provide an indicator on the selector valve to indicate which jack of the scraper is in circuit with the control valve on the tractor, indicator means on the selector valve for indicating the completion of 'an actuating stroke of the hydraulic actuating mechanisms of the selector valve, and a ratcheting mechanism for the selector valve which is operable in one direction by pressure in both of the hydraulic actuating mechanisms and actuated in the opposite direction by spring means, the spring means effecting rotationof the selector valve to a new position upon the relief of pressure from one of I the hydraulic actuating mechanism by return of the control valve to a neutral position fromits selector valve actuatingposition.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in, the construction, arrangecompanying drawings, wherein:

Y Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my selective hydraulic control structure applied to a scraper hitched to atractor and showing the scraper in lowered or digging position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the scraper showing it raised and in dumping position;

Fig. 315 a front elevation of the selector valve unit as viewed in the direction of the arrow 3 adjacent Fig. 1, a portion of the cover being removed, showing a rack for operating the selector valve in raised position; I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing a cross-section through the selector valve itself and a portion of the ratchet mechanism for operating it;

Fig, 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the selector valve in plan view;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the. line 66of Fig. 5 showing the ratchet mechanism and the rack for actuating it in lowered position;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the chain arrangement in the selector valve when the parts are in the position of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a similar diagrammatic view showing m Fig. 11 is a similar sectional view showing the control valve at one limit of its movement;

. Fig, 12 is a similar sectional view showing the control valve at its otherlimit of movement; and

Fig. 13 is a hydraulic diagrammatic view showing the complete installation.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference character T to indicate, in general, a tractor, and A, in general, a scraper. On the scraper A I mount my selector valve unit, indi-.

- rear wheels I4, the axles being shown at l6 and I8. A tongue 20 connects the scraper A to the drawbar 22 of the tractor T. The scraper bowl has a pairof sides 24 and a curved bottom plate 26. The plate 26 is pivoted at 28 so that it can be tilted up from the carrying position of Fig. 1

to the dumping position of Fig. 2. The scraper bowl can also be elevated from the digging position of Fig. 1 to the carrying position of Fig. 2, and for this purpose it is mounted on the frame I by two pairs of links 30 and SI. The links 30 are secured to a rock shaft 32 on which is' mounted a gear 34 meshing with a rack 36. The rack 36 extends into a jack R, which may be termed a raising jack. The jack in Fig. 1 is in retracted position whereas in Fig. 2 it is in extended position for rocking the shaft 32 clockwise and thereby elevating the scraper bowl 24-25.

A second jack D, which may be termed a dump jack, is pivoted at 38 and has a piston rod 40 pivoted to a lever 42. The lever 42 is pivoted at its upper end to the scraper bowl sides at 44 and has a link 46 pivoted to its lower end, the link, in turn, being pivoted at 48 to the scraper bottom 26. When the jack D is in the retracted position of Fig. 1 the scraper bottom 26 is in the loading position, whereas extension of the jack to the Fig. 2 position swings the-bottom 26 about the pivot 28 to a dumping or discharge position.

The selector valve unit S comprises a housing 50 having a cover 52, the housing being rigidly supported on the front end of the frame I0. Attached to the housing 50 is a valve body 54 (see Fig. 4) having therein a tapered valve plug 56. This plug is seated by a spring 58, an adjustable thrustscrew 60 being provided to prevent the valve plug from being seated tootightly. The valve plug has a stem 62 extending through a packing 64 and through a bearing 66 of the housing 50. Keyed to the stem 62 is a ratchet disk 68. A spacer sleeve is secured on ahub 12 of the ratchet disk 68 by a nut 14 mounted on a threaded portion of the hub. The spacer sleeve 10 has a flange 16, and between this flange and theratchet disk 68 a gear sector 18 is mounted for free rotation on the spacer sleeve 10.

The gear sector 10 has gear teeth 80. (see' Figs. 3 and 6) extending a little farther than 90 degrees around its circumference, and has an extension 82 carrying a pivot 04. A pawl 86 is mounted on the pivot 04 and constrained to engage the periphery of the ratchet disk by a Indicators are provided for the selector valve and the rack 90, thesebeing shown at I00 and I08 respectively. The indicator I00 is mounted on a shaft IIO journaled in the cover plate 52 and provided with a tongue II2 to enter a slot H4 in the left-hand end of the valve stem 62,

as shown in Fig. 4. The indicator I00 is of the poppet type, normally being in the position of Fig. 6 by gravity, and raised to the position of Fig. 3 by the rack 86 whenit moves to its highest position.

The rod 04 hasa fork H6 secured to its lower end, and an idler sprocket H8 is journaled in the fork. A pair of cylinders C and C is mounted said washer is also adapted to engage a shoulder v leaf spring 80. The ratchet disk, it will be noted,

has four ratchet teeth 90.

Slidably mounted in a guide 02. which extends from the back wall of the housing 50, is a rod 94 having rack teeth 96 in a portion thereof. The teeth 96 mesh with the teeth 80, and a double-flanged, guide roller 98 backs up the rod 04 adjacent the point of mesh with the teeth 00.

rod 94 downwardly, and the guide 92 provides a stop for the cross-bar I00.

in the housing 00, and these are provided with plungers E and E The plungers E and lil slide in bearings .I20and I22, between which The selector valve S has hydraulic lines L and U leading to the bottom thereof, and hydraulic lines R R D and 1) leading from the side outlets thereof, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 and as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 13. The lines L and L are the two hose which lead from the control valve B on the tractor T, whereas the other lines extend to the raising and dumping jack cylinders, as clearly shown in the latter figure. The lines L and L also have branch lines I34 and I36 leading to the cylinders C and C respectively.

The control valve B (see Figs. 9 and 13) comprises a valve body I30 having ports for connection to the lines L and L and these ports are likewise indicated as L and L The valve body also has power or pump ports P and P and return ports F, F and F The ports F, F and W are connected-with an oil reservoir I40, asshown in Fig. 13, whereas the power ports P and IE are connected with a pump I42. The pump receives oil, as through a line I44 from the reservoir I40. The pump operates continuously, it being operatively connected to the engine of the tractor by means of an extension shaft I45 shown in Fig. 1.

Slidable in the bore of the valve body I30 is a controlplunger havinglands I46, I40 and I50. The valve plunger is retained normally in the centered or neutral position of Fig. 9 by a spring I52 interposed between a washer I54 and a sleeve I50. The valve plunger has a head I50 for engaging the washer and a shoulder I00 for engaging thev sleeve I5 6. The sleeve is also adapted to engage a stationary shoulder I62 of the valve body, and

IE4 of a cap I06 secured to the valve body;

At the opposite end of the valve plunger it extends through a packing I00 and is connected by means of a pin I10 and a yoke I12 to a control rock shaft I14; In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 the yoke I12 and the pin have been turned a quarter turn with relation to the section line 9-9 so as to show theposition of the yoke I12 in various positions of the valve, as illustrated in. these figures. The upper end of the rock shaft has a hendle I10 adapted'to .be' manipulated by the operator of the tractor and scraper from his position in a seat I11 on the tractor.

Within'th'e control valve plunger I provide a selector valve operating plunger I18 having stems I80 and I82. The stem I82 is slidable in a bore I84 to cooperate with ports I88 and I88. The plunger I18 is slidable in a bore I80 to cooperate. with ports I82 and I94. A spring I88 normally extends the plunger I18 to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 9. While I have shown theselector valve control plunger I18 in both halves of the control valve B in Fig. 9, one control plunger only need be provided, as will hereinafter appear.

Returning to the selector valve S, the valve plug 88, as shown in Fig. 13', has a pair of partitions S and S" iorcontrolling the flow oi fluid between the lines L and R and the lines L3 and R, as shown, .or (in a 90-degree rotation of the ,of the valve plug.

Practical operation I In the operation of my selective hydraulic control structure, assuming the control valve B in the neutral position of Fig. 9, the oil is merely by-passed through the control valve by being pumped into the ports P and P and finding its way directly to the return passageway F and through it to the reservoir I40. Assuming that the selector valve isin the full-line position of Fig. 13, and that the scraper is in the raised position of Fig. 2, with the load of the scraper thereby tending to lower in the frame I0 and push the rack 36 into the cylinder R, as indicated by the arrow 2 on the rack in Fig. 13. there will be pressure in the right-hand end of the cylinder R, and, accordingly, in the lines R and L This pressure is held in the control valve B due to the land I80 blocking the port L and the selector valve control plunger I18 blocking the passageway I92 so that the oil thus under pressure in the line L will not pass through this passageway and the passageway -I94 back into the reservoir I40 through the port F Since the cylinder C is connected with the line L by the tube I34 there in Fig. 9, and since the load of the scraper is 6 so that oil can now flow through the left-hand passageways I88, I84 and I88 to the line L, thereby building up pressure in it and in R I88 and, C until that pressure is equal to the opposing pressure in the blocked lines L and R and the right-hand end of the jack cylinder B. This build-up of pressure in the cylinder C" raises the plunger ii. to the position of Fig. 3, which ele vates the rod 94 and its rack teeth 88 i'rom the position of Fig. 6 to the position of Fig'. 3, thereby rotating the gear 80 so that the pawl, 88 will engage in the next counter-clockwise tooth 80 of .the ratchet disk 88. The indicator I08 will rise to the position of Fig. 3 to indicate to the operator when the end of the rack stroke has been reached. The operator can then return the control valve plunger to the neutral position of Fig. 9 by releas- L I18. The spring I82 ing the control handle eifects such return to the neutral position, but the plunger I18 will remain in relation to the control valve plunger in the position shown in Fig. 10. Since the passageway I82 is now in registry with the port L due to the control valve plunger having returned to the Fig. 9 position, oil from L" passes into the bore I80 of the control valve plunger and out through the passageway I84 to the return port F This permits the springs I02 sition of Fig. 10 to the position of Fig. 9, ready for another selector valve operation.-

As the rod 84 moves downwardly it rotates the gear 80 clockwise, and the pawl 06 carries the of the control valve to the position of Fig. 11.

tending to move the piston 81 in the jack cylinder R toward the right in Fig. 13 the pressure is relieved in the lines I. and R and the tube I38 and its cylinder 0*.

After the scraper has been wheeled to the place where its load is to be deposited. it is desirable to reverse the selector valve S to the dotted position in Fig. 13, and this is accomplished by first moving the control valve B to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 10 and then permit it to return to the Fig. 9 position. In the Fig. 10 position it will be noted that the line L is still blocked Y oil by the land I50, and this land also blocks off the flow of pumped oil from the port P to the return port F. The land I48 isv now in position to block oil the oil under pressure from the port P to the return port F so that the pump I42 can build up a pressure for operation of the selector valve, that pressure'being limited by a return bypass I48 in the pump I42 in the usual manner.

In the position of Fig. 10 the left-hand port I88 receives oil from the port 1, thereby acting on the stem I82 of the left-hand plunger I18 to force the plunger back against the action of the spring I88 to its limit of movement where the stem I80 engages the cap I58. This opens the left-hand passageway I88 into the valve port L ratchet disk 88 with it. thereby indexing the selector valve through a 90 degree are and changing the indicator I08 from a vertical position, indicating that the selector valve is set for raising and lowering operations, to a horizontal position, indicating that it is set for dumping operations.

Since the selector valve is now in the dotted position of Fig. 13 the dumping jack D will be operated and the load may be dumped by movement In this position it will be noted that the power port P is connected with the line L and the line'L is connected with the retum port F so that the piston H of the dump jack D will move toward the right, as indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 13. The scraper bowl bottom 28 will then be in the dumping position shown in Fig. 2, and to return it to the Fig, 1 position, as indicated by the arrow 4 in Fig. 13, the control valve B is adjusted to its opposite limit of movement. as shown in Fig. 12, thus connecting the line L with the power port P and the line L with the return port F,

The next desirable operation is usually the lowering of the bowl. and, accordingly, the control valve is again adjusted to the intermediate position oiFig. 10 for changing the position of the selector valve, as already described. In this instance there is pressure in the line L because this is the line which has last been pressurized to cause return of the pump piston 4I. The selector valve may also be operated by elevating the plunger 13! while the plunger E is in the elevated position of Fig. 8. This is accomplished by having a, second selector valve control plunger I18 in lever I18 to an opposite intermediate position 7 V after dumping or scraper bowl lowering operatlons, th selector valve can also be operated. I make pr vision for this by the use of the two plungers E and E, either of which, when extended, will not raise the rack 98, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. However, when either one of them is raised, and then the other one is raised by also charging its cylinder C or as the case may be, with oil under pressure, the rack is then raised, as in Fig. 3, and when it is again lowered by the spring I02 it will index the selector valve a quarter turn, providing the rack 98 has been raised its full stroke. Thus, as long as there is pressure in one of the lines L and L and the.

pressure is relieved from the other line, as in normal scraper raising and dumping operations, the selector valve will not be indexed, but by building up pressure in both lines L and L it is indexed, and this particular adjustment is accomplishedby the intermediate positions of the control valve, as shown in Fig. 10.

As' indexing occurs usually only after raising the scraper or returning the scraper bottom 26, the second selector control valve plunger I78 in the right-hand end of the control valve need not be provided. However, so that it is immaterial which way the lines L and L from the tractor are hooked up to the selector valve it is desirable to provide the second selector valve control plunger, and this is also desirable from the standpoint of being able to index the selector valve after dumping and lowering operations, aswell as after dump return and raising operations.

My selective hydraulic control structure eliminates the necessity of employing two sets of hose from the tractor to the scraper, or in the case of a scraper having a third hydraulic Jack, such as one for opening and closing an apron at the front of the bowl, it eliminates the necessity of having three sets ofhose. The selector valve unit can be made to index one sixth of a turn instead of one quarter of a turn for the raising, dumping and apron operating jacks of such a scraper, or can index a lesser degree for controlling further hydraulically actuated devices. It is not necessarily limited to the control of only two jacks, as shown on the drawings, but may be extended to any feasible number, as will be obvious.

When the control system is applied to a tractor and a scraper, as shown on the drawings by way pecially during turning operations of the tractor,

some of which are at extreme angles wherein hose lines and push-pull cables, at the best, suffer severely in becoming kinked, caught on stumps or rocks, and, in some instances, being caught by the crawler treads of a track laying type of tractor. At the same time, a selector valve is provided which is readily operable by the same control valve which normally reverses the oil flow in the lines L and L it being merely necessary to move the valve to an intermediate position and then let it return to neutral position for effecting a selector valve indexing operation. The indicators I06 and I08 on the selector valve can be readily seen by the operator from the seat ill of the tractor, and this is not an inconvenience, as he must watchthe operation of the scraper, 'as well as the road ahead oi the tractor during his earthmoving operations.

auaoeo Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of m device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a selective hydraulic control structure. a

selector valve having a plurality of positions, by draulically operated devices selectively connected therewith in the various positions thereof, a control valve, a pair of lines leading from said control valve to said selector valve and receiving oil under control of said control valve. and actuating means for said selector valve including a pair of hydraulically actuated elements, one connectto any of the hydraulically operated devices hy-' ed with each of said lines, means cooperating with said selector valve to condition the same for indexing only when there is build-up oi. pressure in both of said lines, and means included in said control'valve for affording such build-up of pressure in both lines at a predetermined po- 'sition of said control valve.

2. In a selective hydraulic control structure, a plurality of hydraulically operated devices, a selector valve for selectively controlling the flow of pressure fluid to said devices, a control valve, a pair of lines leading from said control valve to said selector valve for delivering pressure fluid draulically communicating with the selector 'valve and under control of said control valve, and

connected with each of said lines and connected with said selector valve to condition the same for indexing only when pressure fluid is simultaneously introduced to said lines, and means included in said control valve for effecting such introduction at a predetermined position of said control valve.

3. In a selective hydraulic control structure, a selector valve having a plurality of positions, hydraulically operated devices selectively connected therewith in the various positions thereof, a pair of pressure fluid lines leading to said selector valve, means afiording alternate build-up and relief of pressure therein for actuating said hydraulically operated devices, and actuating means for said selecter'valve including a pair of hydraulically actuated elements, one connected with each of said lines and both operatively engaging with said selector valve to condition the same for indexing when there is simultaneous build-up of pressure in-both of said lines.

- 4. In a selective hydraulic control structure, a,

selector valve having connections with a pair of hydraulic lines, one of which supplies pressure fluid thereto and the other of which relieves pressure fluid therefrom, said selector valve being connected with a pluraltiy of hydraulically actuated devices for selective operation thereof, in-

dexing mechanism for changing the position of 9 either of said pressure responsive devices. hydraulic fluid supply lines connected with said selector valve, one of said pressure responsive devices being connected with one of said supply lines and the other of said devices being connected with the other of said supply lines, said selector valve in different positions thereof connecting said lines with different ones of said hydraulically actuated devices, a control valve for said lines for normally building up pressure in one and relieving it from the other, and means included in said control valve afl'ording a build up in pressure in both of said lines for conditioning said indexing mechanism for operation.

6. In a hydraulic system of the character disclosed, a plurality of hydraulically actuated devices, a selector valve connected therewith, a pair of pressure responsive devices, a ratchet drive for said selector valve driven-in one direction by either of said pressure responsive devices when it responds to pressure while the other one is also responding to pressure, a spring return for said ratchet drive when the pressure is relieved from either of said pressure responsive devices, hydraulic fluid supply lines connected with said selector valve, said pressure responsive devices being connected one with each of said supply lines said selector valve in different positions thereof connecting said lines with different ones of said hydraulically actuateddevices, a control valve for said lines for normally building up pressure in one and relieving itfrom the other, means in one position of said control valve for building up pressure in both of said lines for operated by either of said devices when it respends to pressure .while the other one is also responding to pressure, hydraulic fluid supply lines connected with said selector valve, said pressure responsive devices being connected one with each of said supply lines, said selector valve in diilerent positions thereof connecting said lines im hydraulic fluid, a plurality of hydraulically with different ones of "said hydraulically actuated devices, a control valve for said lines for normally ailording building up of pressure in one and relieving it from the other, and means in one position 0! saidcontroi valve for aiiording building up oi pressure in both 01' said lines tor conditioning said system for operation of said diflerent ones 0! said hydraulically actuated devices, a control valve tor said lines ior normally aflording building up or pressure in one and relieving it irom the other, said control valve including a pressure operated selector valve control element operable to permit build-np oi pressure in the low pressure line of said pair oi lines in a selector valve operating position of said control valve, hydraulic actuating mechanisms connected with said pair oi lines and operable having an indicator thereon to show the posi-,

tion of the valve.

9. In a hydraulic system, a plurality of hydraulically actuated devices, a selector valve connected therewith, indexing mechanism for said selector valve, a pair of hydraulic fluid supply lines connected with said selector valve, said selectorvalve, in'diflerent positions thereof, connecting said lines with different ones of said hydraulically actuated devices, a control valve for said lines for normally building up pressure in one line and relieving it from the other, said control valve including a pressure operated selector valve control element operable to permit build-up of pressure inthe low pressure line of said pair of lines in a selector valve operating position of said control valve, and to reduce the pressure in said low pressure line in another 'posii tion of said control valve, hydraulic actuating mechanismsconnected with saidpair of lines and operable upon pressure inboth of said mechanisms to move said indexing mechanism to one limit of movement, spring means to return said indexing mechanism and thereby index s'aid selector valve to a newly selected position when the pressure in one of said mechanisms is reduced by said control element, said selector valve having an indicator thereon to show the position of the valve and a second indicator to show the completion of the stroke of the indexing mechanism to said limit of movement. I

10. In a hydraulic system of the character disclosed, a plurality of hydraulically actuated devices, a'selector valve connected therewith, hydraulic fluid supply lines connected with said selector valve, said selector valve, in different pobuild-up of pressure in both to condition said selector valve for indexing to a newly selected position, said selector valve having an indicator thereon to show the position of the valve.

11. A hydraulic system for a tractor anda vehicle moved by the tractor comprising a pump operated devices, a hydraulic control system comprising a control valve ior controlling the direction of the flow of said hydraulic fluid, aselector valve for selecting which of said hydraulic devices is to be operated, two conduits only for conveying hydraulic fluid from said control valve to'said selector valve, a single manually operated lever for mechanically operating said control valve to select the direction of flow of said. hydraulic fluid. and means in said control valve operated by said mechanical movement for hydraulically'operating said selector valve through said two conduits to select which of said hydraulic devices is to be operated.

' EILBWORTH W. AUSTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile oi this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,759,647 Kincannon May 20, 1930 3.078.749 Wood Apr-.27, 1937.

2,274,837 Bursa lab. 24, ill 

